Proven: transplanting donor iPS cells is safe
The world's first iPS cell transplant for macular degeneration (2017): in 4 of 5 patients vision stabilized, in one it improved.
The world's first iPS cell transplant for macular degeneration (2017): in 4 of 5 patients vision stabilized, in one it improved.
In 2017, the world's first transplantation using induced pluripotent stem cells was performed. And now we can say for certain: the method worked and caused no complications. Currently, five patients who underwent surgery for a serious eye disease feel excellent.
The patients had been diagnosed with wet macular degeneration, a condition that threatens vision loss. Volunteers received artificially grown retinal cells derived from pluripotent donor stem cells. As a result, four volunteers did not experience worsening vision after the transplant, meaning the dangerous process was successfully slowed. And in one volunteer, vision actually improved.
Using donor cells reduces the cost of the procedure and saves time. However, until recently experts were uncertain about how safe these cells were. Reminder: pluripotent stem cells are stem cells derived from other types of cells through reprogramming.
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